Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Remaining Silent


Loaded
Originally uploaded by Keegan Jones

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Most of us think we have something important to say, but sometimes...

  • ... it's best not to write that insignificant blog post.
  • ... it's best to remain silent.
  • ... it's best to hold your tongue in a tense situation.
  • ... it's best not to speak your mind.
  • ... it's best to stop talking and end the meeting.
  • ... it's best to shut up and end the speech, presentation, or sermon.
  • ... it's best not to send that angry letter or email.
  • ... it's best not to tell that joke.
  • ... it's best to just leave your opinions to yourself.
We have the right to remain silent. Exercise that right and realize that sometimes you're better off listening.

10 comments:

Chris said...

I would have liked this line of tweets and posts 2 years ago, thanks... (of course, I wouldn't have heeded them then.)

We all learn and grow from experience, right? Let's hope.

Andrew Weaver said...

We all should, yes.

Otherwise we're just doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. I think you know what that means.

Bailey McCann said...

Huzzah! I really liked this post - thanks.

Danny Brown said...

I was going to try and leave a really profound comment. But... I think you say it all perfectly, fella.

Clay Elmore said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Clay Elmore said...

RE: my deleted comment - Someday I will learn to read in context. But not this day. Also, even if you DON'T intend to listen, it's often the better part of wisdom to put a cork in it. Some people just like to hear themselves and I've learned to let them do it.

Tanya said...

Great post, I love it. This should be everyone's daily mantra. :D

Andrew Weaver said...

Thanks, everyone. I'll resist saying too much and just leave it at that. ;-)

Tifany said...

Umm...Abraham Lincoln ripped off the Bible with that quote there.

Andrew Weaver said...

Abraham Lincoln ripped off the Bible in a lot of his quotes. :)